A collaborative data project for fixed seat rowing races

The Ouse Yardstick has been developed by the team behind the Head of the Ouse race in Sussex in collaboration with the Three Harbours group of rowing clubs operating in Chichester, Langstone & Portsmouth harbours on the south coast of England.

By using results data from past races we have created class-specific OY numbers which can be easily used by race organisers to adjust time-over-course according to boat class, and allowing crews rowing different types of boat on coastal waters to compete on an equal footing.

Ouse Yardstick numbers are calculated using publicly-available results data from a selection of mixed-class, fixed seat rowing races held in the UK over the past decade.

For each race the fastest elapsed time for each boat class is compared to the fastest wooden Cornish gig in that race to produce individual race OY numbers. Statistical analysis using the Generalised Extreme Value distribution is then applied to each class’s race OY numbers to find the class OY numbers listed below. The wooden Cornish gig is assigned an OY number of 1.000 as the ‘scratch’ or ‘anchor’ class, with faster classes of boat having OY numbers above 1.000 and slower classes of boat having OY numbers below 1.000.

OY numbers are revised every winter using race results data collected over the previous year.

For any mixed-class, fixed seat rowing race, multiply each boat’s elapsed time by its class OY number to find the boat’s adjusted time.

Results data for events using the Ouse Yardstick will be published here:

If you’re involved in organising mixed-class, fixed seat rowing races please get in touch to find out more about the Ouse Yardstick.

Email us at ouseyardstick@gmail.com